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The spectacular representation of the Higgs boson in the Paralympics Opening
Ceremony signals science is reclaiming its place in popular culture,
according to the director of the laboratory where the particle was
discovered.

The London 2012 show, entitled Enlightenment, also starred Professor Stephen
Hawking — and followed an Olympics opening event which featured Tim
Berners-Lee. The so-called God Particle was represented by dancers twirling
silver umbrellas.

Yesterday, Professor Rolf-Dieter Heuer, director-general of Cern, the European
Organisation for Nuclear Research, welcomed the depictions.

“Seeing such a discovery make it into festivities such as the opening of the
Paralympics shows that science might